ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that the Los Angeles Lakers had targeted UConn’s Dan Hurley as their next head coach, two months after he’d led the Huskies to their second consecutive national title and sixth championship in 25 years. Twenty years ago, the Lakers made a similar pitch to Mike Krzyzewski, who rejected the offer to remain at Duke. The franchise received the same answer from Hurley on Monday.
The UConn Huskies coach announced he had decided to stay in Storrs, Connecticut, and continue his pursuit of a third straight NCAA title and the spoils of being recognized as the top coach in men’s college basketball. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has negotiated deals with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and other noteworthy figures in basketball. But the franchise failed to lure Hurley from his prestigious post in the collegiate ranks, a disappointment for the Lakers and a monumental development for the future of UConn men’s basketball.
Myron Medcalf and Jeff Borzello break down why Hurley stayed, what it means for UConn’s three-peat chances and more.
How surprised are you that Hurley stayed at UConn?
Borzello: I’m surprised from the standpoint of the Lakers being one of the most storied franchises in American sports, led by one of the greatest players to ever play basketball. Had he made his decision shortly after meeting with Lakers executives and ownership, it would have been stunning to see him turn that down. But once he returned to the East Coast and the decision-making progress started to drag out until Sunday and then to Monday, it became less surprising to see him stay at UConn. It’s a lot harder to say “I’m leaving” when you have to go into the practice facility — with jerseys of UConn legends on the walls and national championship trophies in the lobby — and tell it to the team you built to chase a third consecutive title.
Medcalf: I would have been more surprised Friday or Saturday. But I’m less surprised now that I know he was offered a six-year, $70 million deal. Yes, it’s a substantial offer, but I’m less surprised given the Lakers didn’t put a massive, eight-figure deal on the table. Still, it was an opportunity to coach one of the storied franchises in sports, a team that might be led by future Hall of Famers Davis and James next season. I’m also not sure how much higher Hurley can go at UConn after all of his success. But I think he can be authentic at UConn in ways he could not be in the NBA. Still, it’s the Lakers. Few have rejected an offer from a member of the Buss family, so it’s surprising.
What does this mean for UConn’s chances of a three-peat?
Borzello: The hunt for something that hasn’t been done in more than 50 years in men’s college basketball is officially back on. Had Hurley left, UConn would have likely been left with a first-time head coach and a depleted roster. It would have been an offseason filled with question marks and a season filled with uncertainty. Instead, the UConn program and its fan base are going to be more motivated than ever. Hurley already was a Huskies legend. Two national titles will do that for you. But now that he has turned down Kentucky and the Los Angeles Lakers? The fan base is going to back him to the fullest extent. With Alex Karaban returning and Liam McNeeley and Aidan Mahaney entering the fold, there’s a top-five roster in Storrs. And Hurley is also back to lead the way.
Medcalf: It makes them real. Karaban withdrew from the NBA and returned to UConn for a shot at a run that has not been achieved since John Wooden’s UCLA squads in the 1960s and 1970s. Only a handful of teams have won back-to-back crowns, but UConn has a real shot. It appears, however, that Kansas has the best team in the country entering the season. And Alabama is also equipped for another Final Four run. Houston, North Carolina, Duke, Iowa State and others are valid contenders. But Karaban, along with McNeeley, a top-10 recruit, and Mahaney, a Saint Mary’s transfer, could lead this program to a seventh national title in 26 years and extend an unprecedented run in recent men’s college basketball history.
